To the Editor:

(An open letter to the class of 1998.)

When I first heard of Oberlin back in 1989, one of the things that impressed me the most about the college was the tradition of not wearing a cap and gown for graduation. Even better, I was told that the money that would have been spent on the cap and gown was instead donated to local charities.

Indeed, graduation day rolled around in 1993 and most of my friends had no plans to wear traditional graduation apparel. However, no one I knew of was planning on donating any money to charity although everyone had heard of such a tradition. The problem was that there was no organization whatsoever. Most people didn't even know the name of a local charity. What was needed then and what is needed now are a few people willing to plan and organize the collection of funds for the local community. I am sure that many people would be willing to donate money if they knew where the money was going and how to do it.

As your graduation day approaches, I sincerely hope that some members of your class will take it upon themselves to infuse a very noble Oberlin tradition with life.

-Eli Greenberg, OC'93

OSCA is about students providing a service for themselves

To the Editor:

I wanted to address some of the concern in the administration over "public negotiations" in the current Rent Contract negotiations with OSCA. I do not pretend to understand the precedent for closed contract negotiations. Apparently, most contract negotiations are kept confidential until all sections of the contract have been agreed on.

I do know that at the beginning of this process, OSCA and Oberlin College negotiation teams met to discuss confidentiality. I believe it was understood that neither the negotiations, nor the issues brought up by them could be kept confidential. It is both within the ideals of Cooperation and in the best interests of both OSCA and the College to keep the OSCA membership/ownership informed.

The College team only sees the eight or so faces of the negotiating team during meetings. But ultimately we are not the ones making decisions about the contract. One of the Cooperative Principles we adhere to is "democratic member control." In OSCA, this means the consensus process. Part of consensus is ensuring that every member/owner has a say and is not silenced.

I have seen more individual initiative regarding Rent Contract education than I have ever seen in OSCA. Although I am not in charge of this initiative, my understanding is that these efforts are attempted in the spirit of support and not confrontation. This is to be commended. Often, the College misunderstands student initiative and is not supportive of the causes students feel are important. Please don't let this be yet another case of misunderstanding.

We will be asking our membership/ownership to make important decisions that effect the future not just of OSCA, but also the Oberlin community at large. In order for our membership/ ownership to make a real and meaningful decision about this contract, we as the negotiating team must educate and encourage initiatives. Students have to be informed about the real issues, as well as the complexities of the disagreements and compromises in the negotiations. This is why OSCA could never conduct confidential negotiations.

If we had kept all language confidential until agreed upon, most of the issues surrounding the contract would have been secret until right before it would be passed through our membership/ ownership. I think we can all agree that this neither gives OSCA students a fair shot at a real decision nor would allow the membership/ownership to draw their own conclusions about the issues presented. In light that we did have a meeting with the College negotiating team regarding OSCA education, I believe none of this should have come as a surprise to the College.

Finally, I would like to note that OSCA is a very integral part of many Oberlin students' education. I know that for me, OSCA has opened a world of experience in alternative democracy, leadership and cooperative ideals. Although for many students OSCA is merely a part of their Oberlin experience, for me OSCA is my Oberlin experience.

OSCA is not about providing a service for Oberlin College. It is not about managing, directing, or supervising students. OSCA is about students providing a service for themselves. It is an ongoing, 48-year experiment that will never be quite perfect. OSCA is an educational experience, an expression of community, as well as just a good place to live or eat. OSCA in my belief, is all that "Learning and Labor" should be.

-Jenn Carter College senior, OSCA President

OSCA really needs nonprofit status

To the Editor:

(Senate approved this open letter to President Dye at last week's meeting. It was delivered to her office on Monday.)

We are writing to address the status of the OSCA rent contract, which expires this summer. Residential Life and Services staff and OSCA members have spent the past year working on a mutually beneficial agreement.

OSCA is a valuable asset to the Oberlin community. A total of 630 members belong to OSCA, making it the largest student group on campus. No other college or university has as strong a tradition of cooperatives that are supported and integrated into campus life.

OSCA is unique to Oberlin and is the second largest student cooperative organization in the country. It serves as a selling point to many prospective students. OSCA members are committed to their co-ops and benefit from a fundamental cooperative experience - autonomous ownership.

As OSCA's advisor, you may be aware that OSCA is currently spending a significant amount of money on legal advising regarding its rent contract. As are asking you, as college president and OSCA's faculty advisor, to advocate on OSCA's behalf. We ask you to help OSCA retain its non-profit status and its position in the college community for years to come.

-Oberlin College Student Senate